Social Media Saves Thordarson Gate

On April 10 the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced that the 80-year-old Thordarson Gate on Rock Island was coming down due to safety issues. Five days later the decision was reversed.

“Social media lit up after the press release came out. The DNR and parks bureau heard the public,” said Randy Holm, ranger at Rock Island State Park. “We need to re-evaluate this, but the gate’s not coming down.”

Holm, who has served on Rock Island since 2001, said there is a definite safety issue with the gate, but he also recognizes the iconic nature of the gate.

“The thing is ready to fall down,” Holm said. “It’s two tree trunks that support a third one on the top. It’s been out in the weather for 80 years, so it’s completely rotten. What do you do with rotten wood when it’s gone? Braces that were put on in the past are the only thing holding it up.”

Holm said it’s too early to talk about what will be done with the gate, but he expects there will be a series of meetings to explore options.

“There aren’t a lot of park funds available. We’ll have to find some funding or donations,” he said.

Thordarson Gate is named for its builder, Chester Thordarson, who owned the majority of Rock Island before the DNR purchased it from his heirs in 1965. The iconic gate was built as part of a 30-acre fence enclosure to protect Thordarson’s rare plantings from the island’s browsing deer herd. The fence proved to be unsuccessful.